Saturday, 16 August 2014

What Makes a Bad Writer?

We’ve all
been bad writers at some point.Being a
bad writer is all part of the ritual of becoming a good writer. Everyone starts
out a bad writer and becomes a good writer over time. (Good writers will also
know that good writing isn’t formed instantly – it takes years of practice).

But how can
you tell a bad writer from a good one? How do you know if you are a bad writer?

The main
difference with good writers and bad writers is that good writers are always
learning, always developing and are always open to feedback. Good writers know
their limitations and their skill levels, and they’re always striving to become
better; the best they can be.

Bad writers,
however, are a different beast altogether.

Bad writers
have no real grasp of their limitations, they presume to know everything there
is to know about writing, without the experience to back it up. But even if
they have three self-published books on Amazon, it doesn’t make them an expert
on fiction writing. It just means they have a long way to go, because being a
good writer can take years, even decades to achieve.

Only bad
writers assume they have a superior level of writing excellence. Good writers never
assume it, they earn it.

Also, bad writers don’t understand the concept of constantly editing and
rewriting and the need to polish to (almost) perfection, something that’s
required before it enters the public domain. Most simply don’t have the patience for such
things.

Good writers, on the other hand, will read through and edit their work
several times to eliminate errors and plot flaws and they will have the
patience to do so until the work is truly ready, until they have a quality
piece of work.

This is turn leads to the arrogance factor. There is nothing more
unbecoming in fiction writing that a writer who is arrogant and has an attitude
to go with it. More often than not, those who are haughty and overconfident are
simply not as good as they think. And more often than not, this notion is
proven with what they actually write, simply because their ego has overshadowed
any existing raw talent.

Good writers know that perfection is not attainable, but the next best
thing is, so they always try to achieve this. At the same time they will
acknowledge that no one is perfect. That’s why they are always learning,
because writing is a constantly evolving process. They know that to be better
writers, they have to learn and evolve. That’s how we all become not just good
writers, but great writers.

A bad writer, however, will dismiss the need to learn. They already know
all there is to know. They don’t realise that to be a better writer they have to
learn.

Have you ever received negative feedback that made you get angry and
defensive? The answer is that we all have.

What we write and how we write it won’t be liked by everyone. Good
writers accept and understand this concept.But bad writers don’t understand this at all. Negative feedback is met
with even more negativity and sometimes these writers will become involved in
online arguments with other writers or engage in emails with those who may have
offered the negative feedback. It’s extremely unprofessional.

This leads to that other big negative for writers – the dreaded
rejection. Good writers accept that they are not perfect and that rejections
are a part of the writing process. They will also take on board the feedback
and comments in a constructive way and they will examine where they can improve
their work and develop their writing skill accordingly.

Bad writers won’t. They won’t see rejection as an opportunity to
improve. They won’t see the positive in it. They will think it’s a personal
attack on them and a rejection of their genius. They will become angry and
defensive, even petulant, and that arrogance will just grow.

If you cannot cope with rejection or criticism of your writing, then
unfortunately that makes you a bad writer.

Another thing is that bad writers don’t understand the concept of
professionalism.

And that brings me to the subject of submitting work to agents and
publishers. The good writers amongst us will pay vital attention to the
guidelines of the publishing house or the agent’s requirements, because
guidelines are there for a reason.

A bad writer will ignore these guidelines. The “nobody can tell me what
I should and shouldn’t do” attitude won’t wash with potential publishers. If
you can’t be bothered to follow instructions, then don’t bother being a writer.

Lastly, the new phenomenon of shameless self-promotion has become a
nuisance. The pester power of self-published writers isn’t endearing, it’s
annoying. And the “look at me and my fantastic novel” constant promotion on
every available medium won’t win readers.

Good writers promote, but they also engage with potential readers, they
ask questions, they answer questions, they have open discussions about their
writing, they use the likes of Twitter or Facebook, Goodreads or writing forums
to network and socialise and generate interest in a productive way.

What they don’t do is selfishly spam the hell out of everyone. And
that’s precisely what a bad writer will do. Bad writers are not bothered about
networking or socialising or engaging in discussions about their writing or
indeed any constructive feedback. They just want the sales.

Ultimately, a bad writer is one that doesn’t listen and therefore never
learns. So, are you one of them?

"Being a bad writer is all part of the ritual of becoming a good writer." So true! I am also reminded of Baldwin's words: "I know many talented ruins. It takes, discipline, love, luck and most importantly endurance to make a writer." (Baldwin, of course put it more eloquently than me).

All Write - Fiction Advice

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It's one of the hardest things to do - create a whole, believable world for other people to enjoy, especially if you're new to writing. It's also one of the loneliest jobs, especially when there is no help or advice or support...so right here there will be handy articles, examples and simple step by step guides to help make the creative process that much easier.

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About Me

I've been writing for over 25 years and started out in the publishing industry. I've published articles, study guides, poems, flash fiction, short stories and a novel. I also work full time so I'm ALWAYS working.